Hood latch



D. P. HYNES June 14, 1932..

HOOD LATCH Filed Sept. 8, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet June 14, 1932. D. P. HYNES 1,863,340

HOOD LATCH Filed Sept. 8, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 y @Mg/fw@ Y 4Figure 8.

iatentecl June 14, 1932 PATENT :u

BIBRELL il?. -YNES.' OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORTO 'CHlC-AGO 'FORGI'NG I8?I 'MANU- FACTURING CO., OF CHECGO, ILLINOES, 'ACORPORA'TON-'OF"ILLINOIS HOOD LATCH Application filed September My invention relates to a latch or closingmeans. .One application thereof is as a hood latch for an automobile hood closure. VOne `object is .the provision of such a latch or closure which shall be eilicient and positive in vits action and which shall be easily actuated. Another object is the provision of a latch or locking device which shall yieldingly draw alower edge of a hood closure downwardly and inwardly toward a limiting abutment. Another object is the provision .of a closurewhich includes an interior locking device and an exterior control member adapted also to'lii't the closure to which the locking device is applied. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

` ll illustrate -my invention more or less? diagrammatically in the accompanying` Idrawings, wherein Figurel is an inside view illustrating the device in locking position;

Figure is a section on the lineZ-Q of Figure l;

Figure is a similar section showing the parts unlocked position; andV 'Figure 4 is a section on the line t-if of `Lilie parts are indicated byvlile symbols throughout the specification and drawings. `Referring to the drawings, A generally indicates a frame of an automobile which is provided with an upwardly extending abutment A1. B indicates aside of an automof bile hood closure, the lower edge B1 of which is Vadapted to be opposed exterior-ly to the vabutment AJ. Mounted on the inner face of thehood closure B is the lock assembly plate or support generally indicated as C. 'It may have the apertures C1 whereby it may be riveted, or bolted asV at C2, to the inner face of the hood. lt includes also, at its lower end, an inwardly projecting ange C3 provided with an aperture Ct. lts upper portion is apertured, as at C5, and adjacent said aperturefare the flanges C apertured 'in alignment, as at C7. j

Rotatably mounted upon the flanges C5 is the lever generally indicated as D. It may vbe mounted rupon a pivot pin D1 passing s,v 1930. l :serial ne. 4803355.

through the apertures C7. It includes an eX- teriorly extending lever arm, or handleportion D2 which passes outwardly throu'g'gh the aperture C5 .and through. acorresponding or aligning aperture`D3`inthe hood itself; vD4 indicates an innenlever arnnfthe'two arms forming in el'ect a bell crank lever. Pivoted to the outer end of the.lever-.D*, as upon the pin or Vpins D5, is the vlatch bolt assembly generally indicated as E. 'lt-may include Vthe two side pieces'El connected at theirV edge, as at E2. E'indicateguide membersaor cams associatedwith, and. herein shown asormed integrally with the iside pieces El.. E4 yare stop lugs .laterally :extending from the .side membersE, adapted `to limit thedownward movementfof.thefhool assembly, `when the device sinitheposition showninFigure 3. The bottoms of the side members are brought together to form. a hook E5, which includes the relatively extended andy inclined surface E5. The .aperturel Otisg preferably about the same width as the latch assembly, V.but of somewhat vgreater length. When .the l rparts are in thegposiftiozni in which they are shown in Figureflnamelyin locking-position, the guidesl3 engage oneend of the aperture Vand thelatch engages', oris crossed tothe other 4thereby obvating all annoying rattle between thelatjch andguidefparts. But when the hook is in unlocked position, the, guide llies ata Ilevel .below lthat of theilange C5, .and the. latch Iassemblyimay move along the length` of` the aperture, Vbeing stopped in its downward movement bythe lugs ET'.

VGrv generally.' indicates fa locking abut-ment positioned within the'hood.V I havefherein shown itzas :a yieldinglmember such as aV strand of :heavy resilient wire .K including. an .upper pOrtionfGla'nd .alower, or'hoolr-engaging` portionf G2, the Atwo 'beingI 4connected by they bend G3. The-y result is va vlocking abutment which isl inl effect' a spring, and `which provides a yielding connection between lthe ihook'E5 and the autombilebody Thefresilient member, as shown in Figs. f 1 and 3, may be securedltothebracket vG by .ia'plurality of integral tongues 'struck outot the body of y't'hebr'acket and clamped into iirm engagement with one end of 'the resilient member.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, that nevertheless many changes may be made in the size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. I therefore with my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic.

The use and operation of my invention are are follows: n

In locking automobile hoods, I lin-d it desirable to provide a hood latch which is positive in its action and which tends to draw a loweredge of the hood closure downwardly and inwardly. I iind it also desirable to associate with concealed or inside hood latch an exterior handle or control member which serves tolift the hood after the latch has been released.

It will be seen from a considera-tion of Figures 2 and 3 that when vthe hook E is in locking position, the handle D2 is at the lower extremity of vits rotation. The downward movement of the handle D2 lifts the latch E and moves the hook E5 outwardly and upwardly to engage and spring the bar or pin G2. The inclination of vthe axis or linek along which this thrust is directed and the inclination of the hook E, tends to draw the lower edge of the hood inwardly' against the abutment A1, as Well asV downwardly toward the frame A.

When the operator wishes to release the latch and to lift the hood, he merely rotates the lever D2 into the position in which it is shown in Figure 3. He thereby moves the upper end of the bolt assembly E outwardly and moves its lower end inwardly.

When the lever D2 is in the position in which it is shown in Figure 8,' the hook D5 is also out. of vertical alignment with the member G2. The operatormay then merelyV continue his lifting may easily be lifted.

In reference to Figures 2 and 3 and the aperture C, I prefer to employ frictional washers D10 D11 in association with the pivots D5 and D1 respectively. Taking the parts movement,'and the hood in the position in which they are shown inV Figure 3, a downward movement of the handle D2 not only lifts the inner arm D4 of the lever, but also thrusts the latch assembly forwardly toward the inner end of the aperture C4. This positively thrusts the vhook EG beneath the locking abutment G2, as shown in Figure 2, and further downward movement of the handle D2 draws the hook upwardly into its locking engagement with the hook. On the other hand, in unlatching the device, when the handle D2 is raised the frictional washers D1D will cause the latch assembly to move first downwardly, and then toward the opposite end of the aperture Ct.

Thereby' Vof unintended movement of the handle D2.

The friction is sufficient to prevent unintended movement but insufficient to hamper intended manual movement of the handle.

Referring to the action ofthe latch in relation to the keeper, when the hook E is moved from the position in which it is shown in Figure -3 to the position in which it is shown in Figure 2, the initial result of the downward movement of the handle D2 is to move the hook E6 laterally until it is beneath and in vertical alignment with the keeper.-` Ihe frictional washers D10 have this effect, since a downward movement of the handle D2 will throw the hook EG forwardly toward the keeper. The aperture C2 is of sufficientA length to permit this free lateral moven'ient;

'of the latch. A continued movement of the handle D2 locks the hook upwardly against the keeper G2. In unlocking the latch the first upward movement of the handle D2 causes a downward movement of the hook E, and this downward movement takes place bcfore there is any substantial lateral movement of the hook. As the upward movement of the khandle D2 continues, the hook is moved laterally into the position in which it is shown in Figure 8. The member E3 serves to guide the upward movement of the latch through the aperture C* at the lower portion of the downward stroke or movement of the handle D2.

I claim:

l. In a hood fastener or the like, the combination with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper mounted within the hood, a latch bolt carried by the hood door and mounted therewithin to swing with and independently of the door toward and away from the keeper, guiding means on the interior of the door, adapted to guide the movement of the latch bolt, and to limit its movement toward and away from the door, a lever mounted upon the Ydoor and extending on each side thereof, a pivotal connection between the inner arm of said lever and the `latch bolt, the outer arm of the lever being adapted to serve as a handle, the latch bolt being mounted for longitudinal and lateral movement in relation to the guiding means, said latch including two side members, the side members being pivoted to the inner arm of the lever, and bein connected at their lower ends to form a keeper engaging hook.

2Q In a hood fastener or the like, the combination with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper yieldingly mounted within the hood, a latch bolt carried by the hoodk door and mounted therewithin'to swing with The frictional fligeeasao and independently of the door toward and,V

away from the keeper, a guiding loop on the interior of the door, adapted to guide the movement of the latch bolt, and to permitav limited lateral swinging movement toward and away from the door, a lever mounted upon the door and extending on each side ed for longitudinal and lateral movement in relation to the guiding means.

3. In a hood fastener, the combination with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper mounted within the hood, a latch bolt carried by the hood door and mounted therewithin to swing with and independently 4of the door toward and away from the keeper, guidingmeans on the interior of the door, adapt-ed to guide the movement of the latch bolt, and to limit its movement toward and away from the door, a handle structure positioned upon the door and including a lever extending inwardly from the door, a pivotal connection between said lever and the latch bolt, the latch bolt being mounted for longitudinal and lateral free swinging movement in relation to the guiding means, said latch bolt including side elements pivoted to the lever, the lower portions of said side elements being connected at their lower ends to form a keeper engaging hook.

et. In a hood fastener, the combination with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper mounted within the hood, a latch bolt carried by the hood door and mounted therewithin to swing with and independently of the door` toward and away from the keeper, guiding means on the interior of the door, adapted to guidethe movement of the latch bolt, and to limit its movement toward and away from the door, a handle structure positioned upon the door and including a lever extending inwardly from the door, a pivotal connection between said lever and the latch bolt, the latch bolt being mounted for longitudinal and lateral free swinging movement in relation to the guiding means, and means v for limiting the downward movement of the latch bolt in relation to the guiding means.

5. In a hood fastener, the combination with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper mounted within the hood, a latch bolt carried by the hood door and mounted therewithin to swing with and independently of the door toward and away from the keeper, guiding means on the interior of the door, adapted to guide the movement of the latch bolt, and to limit its movement toward and away from the door, a handle structure positioned upon the door and including a lever extending inwardly from the door, a pivotal connection between said lever and the latch bolt, the latch bolt being mounted for longitnr'linaliv andlateral Y free fswingingfmovement in l relation tothe guiding means, :and: addivtional guiding lnieans, associated with the latch bolt, adapted :tocausef the latch bolt to rswing outwardlydoward the ,inner face of the vdoorfmember in vrespon'seto upward movef ment of' the latchl bolt in. relationy to'. the first- 1mentionedguidingmeans. i i

'6. In ahood.-fastener,a latch adapted for 5Imounting i upon la hood' door i toA swing with and independently `ofthe door toward the door, and including y:a2-latch bolt .mounted forA -swinfgingmovement'awayfrom the door, a fhandle structure :positioned-npon the door and including fa lever `textending inwardly fromf the'door, -a pivotal 'cennection between said lever and latch bolt and 1 `guiding means Lpositionedbelow` said handle and lever and in operative relationI with the latch "bolt, said guiding means defining the limits of swinginrg'movementof `the latch'b'olt toward and :away from the innerface of the door and in 'relation to the keeper.

V7. In 'a hoody fastener, the combination with a'hinged door member to be latched, `ofa keeper' mounted within the hood, alatch carlriedby the hood door-'and mounted'therewithin to swing with the door, and including a latchl bolt mounted for-swinging movement independently of the doort'oward andl away fromithe door, guidingv means on theinterior of the door, adapted'to guide'lthe movement of the latch bolt, land including means to limit rits .movement toward and away from the door, afihandle structure'positioned upon the door and includinga lever extending inwardlyifrom thedoorfagpivotal connection between said-lever and' the latch bolt, the latch tboltibeing mounted forflongitudinal and lateral freev swinging i movement I in relation to :theguiding means, said latch bolt having its f trani-averse` dimension increased intermediate its ends and-at apoint in `coincidence with 'said' guide means, when ina latched position, i to defineanl enlargedportion dimensionedlto simultaneously engage theiforward and rearwardl'atch-limiting means of thefguide when thelatch bolt is in=l1atc`hed position, and additionalguiding means associatedwith the latch, adapted'tocausei the latch bolt to swing outwardly toward the inner face of the door member in response to upward movement of the latch bolt in relation to the first-mentioned guiding means.

8. In a hood fastener, the combination with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper mounted within the hood, a latch carried by the hood door and mounted therewithin to swing with the door, and including a latch bolt mounted for swinging movement independently of the door toward and away from the door, guiding means on the interior of the door, adapted to guide the movement of the latch bolt, and including means to limit its movement toward and away from -Il` the door, a handle structure positioned 4upon the door and including ka lever extending inwardly from the door, a pivotal connection` between said lever and the latch bolt, the latch bolt being mounted for longitudinal and lateral free swinging movement in relation to the guiding means, and additional guiding means including a cam surface associated with the latch bolt, adapted to cause the latch bolt to swing outwardly toward the inner face of the door member in response to upward movement of the latch bolt in relation to the first-mentioned guiding means, said cam surface terminating in an enlarged portion of the latch boltdened by increasing the transverse dimension of the latch bolt intermedia-te its ends and at a point in coincidence with the guide means when the latch is in latched positionsaid enlarged portion being dimensioned to simultaneously engage the forward and rearward latch-limiting means of the.

` guide when the latch is in latched position.

9.y In a hood fastener, the combination with a hinged door member to be latched, of a keeper mounted within the hood, a latch carried by the hood door and mounted therewithin to swing with thedoor and including a latch bolt mounted for swinging movement independently of the door toward and away from the door, guiding means on the interior of the door, adapted to guide the movement of the latch bolt, and including means to limit its movement toward and away from the door, a handle structure positioned upon the door and including a lever extending inwardly from the door, a pivotal connection between said lever and the latch bolt, the latch bolt being mounted for longitudinal and lateral free swinging movement in relation to the guiding means, said latch bolthaving its transverse dimension increased intermediate its ends and at a point in coincidence with said guide means, when in a latched position, to dene an enlarged portion dimensioned to simultaneously engage the forward and rearward latch-limiting means .of the guide when the latch is in latched position.

Signed at Chicago vcounty of Cook and State of Illinois, this 6th day of August, 1930 DIBRELL P. HYNES. 

